Finisher transport assembly jam access cover for digital printers

摘要

A sheet jam access assembly in combination with a finisher transport assembly having a main transport cover, is used with a digital printer. First and second axles with idler nip rollers are mounted on the transport assembly for movement away from the process path. First and second drive nip rollers are mounted for driven rotation on the transport assembly. A jam access cover pivots on the main transport cover from a closed to an open position. First and second hinges each have a first outer leaf on the jam access cover connected by a hinge pin to an inner leaf which translates transverse to the process direction. The hinge axis is spaced apart from the cover axis. A cam plate base portion translates parallel to the process direction. First and second ramps adjacent the axles extend away from the base portion at an angle to the process direction. A slot extends through the first inner leaf at an angle to the process direction. A transfer pin attached to the base portion engages the slot to move the cam plate ramps, which engage the axles to raise the nip rollers and release the jammed sheet. A leaf spring detent holds the jam access cover open.

主权项

1. A jam access assembly in combination with a finisher transport assembly having a main transport cover, for use in connection with a digital printer and a media sheet adapted for travel through the transport assembly along a process path in a process direction, the jam access assembly comprising:
at least one idler nip roller axle mounted on the transport assembly for movement away from the process path; at least one idler nip roller mounted for rotation on the at least one axle; at least one drive nip roller mounted for driven rotation on the transport assembly, and operatively engaging the at least one idler nip roller; a jam access cover pivotally mounted on the finisher transport assembly for pivotal movement on a cover axis from a closed position at least partially covering the transport assembly to an open position projecting at an angle away from the transport assembly; at least one hinge having an inner leaf mounted on the transport assembly for translation generally transverse to the process direction, the at least one hinge having an outer leaf mounted on the jam access cover for rotation about the cover axis; a hinge pin connecting the outer leaf to the inner leaf, the hinge pin being centered on a hinge axis spaced apart from the cover axis, so that as the jam access cover pivots from the closed position to the open position, the hinge pin will move in a path generally transverse to the process direction, thereby causing translation of the inner leaf; a cam plate having a base portion mounted on the transport assembly for translation generally parallel to the process direction, the cam plate base portion being generally parallel to the inner leaf and adjacent to the inner leaf, the cam plate having a ramp adjacent the at least one axle, the ramp extending away from the base portion at an angle to the process direction, so that as the cam plate moves generally parallel to the process direction, the ramp slidingly engages the at least one axle causing the at least one axle to move upward, thereby raising the at least one idler nip roller away from the at least one drive nip roller; a slot through one of the cam plate base portion and the inner leaf, the slot being disposed at an angle to the process direction; and a transfer pin attached to one of the cam plate base portion and the inner leaf opposite the slot, the transfer pin being operatively received for sliding motion in the slot, so that as the inner leaf moves transverse to the process direction, reactive forces between the slot and the transfer pin will cause the cam plate to move generally parallel to the process direction, the ramp will cause the at least one axle to move upward, thereby raising the at least one idler nip roller away from the at least one drive nip roller and releasing the media sheet.